Press Releases
Video Message by Mr. MICHII Rokuichiro, Ambassador of Japan to Tuvalu for the Landing Ceremony of Submarine Cable in Tuvalu
On December 11, 2024, in Funafuti, the capital of Tuvalu, there held a landing ceremony of submarine cable (Central Pacific Connect), and Mr. MICHII Rokuichiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tuvalu presented a video message.
- In the video message, Ambassador Michii expressed his congratulations on the first submarine cable connection in Tuvalu, and reiterated Japan’s commitment to developing digital communication infrastructure in order to enhance connectivity and unity of the Pacific Island countries, since “technology and connectivity” was identified as one of the priority areas for cooperation in the Leaders' Declaration and the Joint Action Plan of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held in last July.
- Japan will continue to collaborate with like-minded partners to strengthen connectivity in the Pacific Island countries through the development of digital communication infrastructure to build trusted and more resilient networks.
On July 18, the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was co-chaired by Prime Minister KISHIDA and Prime Minister BROWN of the Cook Islands, the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The Meeting was attended by the leaders and representatives of 19 countries, regions and regional organization including Japan, 14 Pacific Island countries, two French overseas collectivities, Australia, and New Zealand, and the chair of Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
The Government of Japan announced Japan’s commitment to continue its robust development assistance and support for more than 6,500 people-to-people exchanges as well as human resource development over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation which are in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent or “2050 Strategy" of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF): (1) Political Leadership and Regionalism, (2) People-Centered Development, (3) Peace and Security, (4) Resource and Economic Development, (5) Climate Change and Disasters, (6) Ocean and Environment, (7) Technology and Connectivity.
(Leaders’ Declaration)
Recognizing Japan’s strengths and long-standing record of cooperation in the domain of technology and connectivity, Leaders expressed their willingness to reinforce their efforts for a well-connected region that ensures inclusive, affordable and accessible air, sea and land transport and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and robust and enhanced oversight systems and services in line with the Lagatoi Declaration on Digital Transformation of the Pacific. PIF Leaders expressed their appreciation for Japan’s cooperation on network modernization and subsea cables in the Pacific Islands region.
(Joint Action Plan)
Strengthen quality infrastructure: The PALM Partners will cooperate in the development of quality infrastructure such as ports, airports, roads, electricity, and water supply and sewage systems, in line with the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles and international standards, to improve connectivity within and beyond the Pacific Islands region. To further promote quality infrastructure investment, the PALM Partners will collaborate with the Asian Development Bank. The PALM Partners will also strengthen cooperation in improving operation and maintenance capacities and enhancing capacity for effective operation.
We welcome the announcement of Google’s $1 billion investment in digital connectivity for North Pacific Connect, which expands the Pacific Connect Initiative, with NEC, to improve digital communications infrastructure between the United States, Japan and Pacific Island Nations. Building on the U.S.-Australia joint funding commitment for subsea cables last October, the United States and Japan plan to collaborate with like-minded partners to build trusted and more resilient networks and intend to contribute funds to provide subsea cables in the Pacific region, including $16 million towards cable systems for the Federated States of Micronesia and Tuvalu.